Supporters Outline Project's Benefits

June 11, 2004|By DANIEL P. JONES; Courant Staff Writer

WEST HARTFORD — The $158 million Blue Back Square project would bring in millions of dollars a year in town tax and parking revenues, and the developers would get no special tax advantages, according to the developers and town administrators.

The project would transform the eastern half of West Hartford Center into a thriving neighborhood of condominiums, public spaces, health and fitness centers, restaurants, shops and a five-screen cinema, the developers said Thursday night.

``The first issue, it's got to be walkable,'' said Richard Heapes, a nationally recognized architect who is the planning partner for the development company proposing Blue Back Square.

``People will tell you that we decrease public space,'' he said. But that's not true, Heapes added. ``Public space is significantly increased.''

Speaking for BBS Development LLC, Heapes began formally presenting the project plan to the town council and town plan and zoning commission Thursday night before an audience of about 150 in the town hall auditorium.

The project would expand the town's library, consolidate school administration offices into town hall, connect the eastern side of the center to the vibrant western side, and add more than 550,000 square feet of retail, office, residential, theater, restaurant and health club space to a 20-acre area.

The new commercial and residential square footage would be about half the size of the existing center. But BBS Development, Heapes said, will not take any merchants from the existing center.

The project would be the single largest private investment in the town's 150-year history, Town Manager Barry Feldman said. BBS Development would invest $110 million in the project.

Feldman wholeheartedly recommended the project in an opening statement. Ultimately, he said, it comes down to whether the project will be good for the town.

``I believe it is good,'' Feldman said.

BBS Development is set to present detailed parking plans and address traffic and environmental issues Monday night.

At a hearing next Wednesday, town administrators are expected to present details of the public-private partnership aspect of the project. They are also expected to explain the $48 million in public financing that would be needed for road improvements, lighting, sidewalks, plazas, two parking garages, the town hall renovation to consolidate school offices, and the library expansion.

The public investment would require a debt payment of $3.8 million a year over the 20-year life of the bonds. But the development would generate annual revenue of $6.5 million during the same period, according to briefing documents from the town manager's office.

``After 20 years, the parking revenue is all yours,'' Jim Francis, the town's finance director, said during a break in the hearing.

The town would get a net gain of assets of more than $76 million, according to the briefing book.

A weeklong public comment period will begin June 23, and members of Save the Center, a group that has expressed concerns about the project, are expected to voice their opinions. But Thursday night, supporters wearing ``I Back Blue Back'' stickers appeared to outnumber opponents.

Several supporters said they couldn't understand why anyone would be against the project because they couldn't see any disadvantages.

The town can't afford high-quality schools any longer, said Ilze Krisst of Meadow Brook Road, ``unless we find a source of revenue.''